Container for merchandise



March 5, 1929. F. H. cooMBs CONTAINER EoR MERCHANDISE Filed Nov, 1925 m 1 4 1 l 1 I l a n l m l Wed 17.000

@vif/L Patented M'ar. 5;, 1929.

' UNITED STATES PATENT oFFicE.

AFREI) H- COOMBS, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO FORBES LITHOGRAPH MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

CONTAINER FOR MERCHANDISE.

Application filed November 3, 1925. Seiia1 No.,66,5`12.

This invention relates to containers or cartons of that 'type which may be erected from a position wherein they serve as containers for the shipment or storage of goods to apo- 5 siti'on wherein they serve to display and dispense the saine as, for example, on a. dealers counter. The container of the present iiivention offers' particular facilities in being packed for shipment and has varied application for use for display purposes.

My invention will be readilyy understood by reference to the following description of a single illustrative embodiment thereof shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspectiveview showing the containerY in display position;

Fig. 2 is a vertical central section through the same; and

. 2 A Figs. 3 to 6, inclusive, are central transverse sections illustrating successive steps of one method whereby the container may conveniently be packed, Fig. 6 illustrating the container in it-s closed or shipping position.

Referring now in detail to the illustrative embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, the container there illustrated comprises as a whole two separable boxes which, merely for the purpose of providing a convenient designation therefor readily apprehended in connection with the illustrated form of the invention, may be called a lower box 7 and an upper box 9. These boxes are packed with goods, herein illustrated as small cartons 11. In Fig. 1 the upper box 9 is shown partially empty. In referring to the boxes 7 and 9 as separable I mean that they are in such manner independent that they may be separated one from the other without any cuttingv or breaking of the material.

The boxes, which may be as herein shown substantial counterparts, may be constructed in any convenient manner but herein I have shown them each as folded from cardboard comprising a single piece forming a circuit of the sides and joined at one corner as by the vadhesively secured flap 13 (li'ig. 3) and. having a bottom v15 folded over and secured by the tucked in flap 17 In thefo'rm of the invention shown each of the boxes has a low front side, 7 and 9 respectively, and a high;Y

rear side, 7" and 9'J respectively,.and the other sides are mitred at their upper edges tocorrespond` as is clearly shown in the drawings. The two boxes may be placed top to top with the mitred edges of the sidesin opposition in the 'position shown in Fig. 6 to provide a shippingpackage or they maybe disposed side by side in the position shown in Fig. 1 with the tops upward to display the cartons 11 therein, the fronts of these cartons being exposed because of the low height of the forward walls 7 and 9a.

Heroin the lou' .side 9a'of the upper box lies adjacent the high side 7 b of the lower box and to support the box 9 with the upper edge of the low side 9a substantially at the level of the upper edge of the high side 7b of the lower box a suitable prop or easel 19 may be hingedlv attached to the back of the lower box and inay be folded out to the position-shown in Fig. 2 to provide a support upon which the bottom of the box 9 rests in the position there shown.. The easel 19 may have the upwardly extending ange 21 which rests against the back of the upper box 9 to hold it in position and the inner edge of this flange may be bevelled or curved as shown to permit the upper box to be folded into the position of Fig. l from the position of Fig. 6 or thereabouts" by a pivotal movement substantially about the upper edges of the walls 7 b and 9a as an axis.

The two boxes may be pivotally connected at the upper edges of walls 7l and 9a as iust referred to by the use of a connecting sheet 23, preferably anv additional piece of material, which is separable from at least one of shown. This sheet'may be of the same width as the b'oxes and may be folded over the ad@ jacent sides 7b and 9a in the manner shown iii Fig. 2, extending over the inner faces of these sides and lying between such faces and the goods stored in the boxes, such as the cartons 11, the goods aiding in maintaining the sheet in its folded position.y I have herein' shown the sheet 23 as provided with terminal flanges 25 and 27 (see Fig. 2) which are adapted to overlie the bottoms of the two. boxes and rest between the same and the goods therein.

I have herein shown the rear wall 9b of the upper box 9 as provided with an upward extension 29 which may he folded over forwardly on the inner face of the ieai' wall 9J "to present :t portion thereof outwardly to which in the original material is the same side as the exterior of the box. If desired,

thus when the two boxes are presented top to top Iin the shipping position of Fig. 6 Athe extension 31 may be slipped beneath the front wall 7a of the box 7, this telescoping connection together with the connection at'the other side .by means of the sheet 23k in its unfolded positionL providing for `the closure of the box in this 'shipping position.

One important advantage of the construci tion shown is the ease with which the container may be packed. I have herein illustrated one suitable method whereby the cartons 11 may be packed. The sheet 23 may be assembled with one of the boxes, herein the lower box 7, if not already in position, inl .the manner shown in Fig. 3. Through the open top of the box -.a row of cartons :11 may be placed in the manner shown in Fig. 4. A second row of cartons may then be added on top of the sheet 23 as illustrated at the left in Fig. y5 and the flange 27, if present and if not alread turned up, may then be turned up against t e end of the second row of cars tons as there shown. The other box, herein the upper box 9, may then be slid with a telescoping movement over the outer row of cartons supported on the sheet 23 and over said sheet and in this movement bodily of the two parts together the extension 31 may? be guided under the wall 7a to the position shown in Fig. 6 without the necessity of opening any of the parts. p If flange 27 is absent the box 9 may be separately packed andthe two boxes assembled by a similar telescoping movement, the sheet 23 sliding under wall 9a and the extension V31 `under wall 7", To erect the container this movement bodily of one of the boxes may, if desired, be reversed,

preferably, however, without disengaging they boxes completely, and the two boxes unfolded to the other or the two boxe's unfolded, the extension 31 bemay be mere if to snap out from beneath they ing permitte front wall 7*.

Since the two boxes 7 and 9 are freely separable, if a part of the goods has been sold, emptying one of the boxes, they may be separated one from another and the empty one thrown away, the other remaining as a display container. If `desired also, the two boxes may be separated in th'e first instance to provide two separate display containers. n

The separate boxes may be economically cut from sheet stock without waste. T he construction shown adapts itself to use with stock finished and printed on but one side.

The sheet 23, besides performing the useful function of connecting the two parts while permitting the blanks therefor to be separately and economically cut from sheet stock,-

` face of the sheet at the back and provides for covering the inside of thev rear wall 9" of the upper box 9 where it projects above the cartons 11.

I have described in detail the particular embodiment of my invention shown by way of example in the accompanying drawings.

It will be understood that the construction,

proportion and relation of the parts may be widely varied from the particular form illustrated without departing from the spirit of the invention. The detailed character ofj the description should. not, therefore, be understood as in any way limiting the scope of the invention which is defined in the folv lowing claims.

Claims: i 1. ,A container comprising a pair of separable boxes adapted to be disposed top to top as Va shipping ackage or side by side as a dispensing pac rage and means providing for a hinging connection lof said sides when the container is packed comprising an additional sheet folded over the edges thereof to lie between saidsides and the contents of the boxes, said means permitting the separation of the boxes. y

2. A container comprising a pair of separable boxes adapted to be disposed. top to top l as a shippingpackage or side by side as a dispenslng package and means provlding for a hinging connection of said sides whenthe contalner 1s packed comprislng an additional sheet folded over the edges nthereof to lie be- I tween'said sides and the contents of the boxes and having at `one end a fiange to lie between the bottom of the box and its contents, saidA means permitting the separation of the boxes. 'A

3. A container comprising a pair of separable boxes .adapted to be disposed top. to top as a shlppmg package or side byv side as a dis.- pensing package and means' providing fora lnngmg connection of said sides when the container 1s packed comprising a separate and separable'sheet folded vover the edges of said' sides to lie along the inner surfaces of the f. same and having flanges to overlie the bottoms of the boxes, said means permitting the separation of the boxes. f

4. A container comprising a pair of separable boxes adapted to be disposed top to top as a shipping package or side by side as a dispensing package .and means providing for a hinging connection lof said sides when the container is packed comprising an additional sheet folded over the edges thereof to lie between said sides and the contents of the boxes, another side of one of the boxes having an extension adapted to be slid into engagement with the corresponding side of the other box by a bodily movement of approach between them to the top to top position, said means permitting the separation of the boxes.'

5. A container comprising a pair of separable boxes adapted to bedisposed top to top as.

a shipping package or side by side as a dispensing package, a sheet extending from the edge of such sideof one box and folding over the edge of such side of theother box to provide a hinging connection between the oboxes when packed, said other box being freely separable from said sheet.

. 6. A container comprising a pair of separable boxes adapted to be disposed top to top as a shipping package or side by side as a dispensing package, a sheet extending from the edge of such side of one box and folding over the edge of such side of the other box to provide a hinging connection between the boxes when packed and having a flange to overlie the bottom of said other box, said other box being freely separable from said sheet.

7. A container comprising a pair of separable boxes adapted to be disposed top to top as a shipping package or side by side as Da. dis- .pensin package, a

sheet extending from the edge o such side of one box and-folding over the edge of such side of the'other box to provide a hinging connection b etvveenthe boxes l when packed, said other box being' freely separable from said sheet,` another side of one of the boxes having an extension adapted to be slid into engagement with the corresponding side of the other box by a bodily movement of approach between them the top to top position. U y

8. A container comprising a palr of separa-` ble boxes, one having a relatively tall side and the other a relatively low side, means on the tall side for supporting the said other box with said sides in contact and their 'upper edges substantiallycoincident and meansproriding for a hinging connection of said sides when the container is packed comprising a sheet projecting past the edge of one such side and folded over the inner face of the other such side, one of the boxes being freely separable from said sheet.

9. A container comprising a pair of separable boxes adapted to lie side by side as a dispensing package and means providing for a hinging connection of said sides when the .container is packed comprising a sheet pro-l Jectlng from the maigm of one such side and folding over the inner face of the corresponding side of the other box, said other box being freely separable from said sheet, said boxes also having parts adapted to be telescoped by bodily movement of abox relatively to said sheet with said sheet unfolded and said sides v in alignment.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name `to this specification.

- FRED H. COOMBS. 

